Catholic Diocese of Peoria schools will allow parents to decide on masks and COVID vaccine

Posted on July 22, 2021

By Neil Doyle

PEORIA – Parents and guardians in the Catholic Diocese of Peoria will decide whether or not their child will wear a mask or will be vaccinated against COVID-19 for the upcoming school year.

“The Office of Catholic Schools (OCS) consulted the Archdiocese of Chicago, the Diocese of Belleville, the Diocese of Joliet, the Diocese of Rockford and the Diocese of Springfield, in addition to reviewing guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Illinois Department of Public Health, and Illinois State Board of Education in writing this guidance,” according to a news release Wednesday.

Church officials said school administrators will regularly consult OCS and closely monitor local health conditions.

The Catholic Diocese of Peoria includes 42 elementary and secondary schools, 9,600 students, and 850 teachers across 26 counties. That includes McLean, Tazewell, Livingston, and Logan.

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]

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